19 June 2024, The Hindu
Railways backs out of human error claim; toll climbs to 10
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GS 3: Indian Economy - Infrastructure – Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
- The death toll from a tragic collision between a goods train and the Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express has risen to ten as of Tuesday, including the unfortunate loss of a six-year-old child at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital due to injuries sustained in the incident.
- The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) is scheduled to commence an inquiry into the accident's cause starting Wednesday.
- Initially, the Railways attributed the accident to human error. However, subsequent updates revealed that the automatic signalling system along the route was not operational, prompting a shift in focus regarding the cause of the collision.
- Furthermore, the installation of the Kavach train protection system for the region's rail network remains pending.
- Among the deceased are three Railway employees: the goods train's driver, the guard of the Kanchanjunga Express, and a Railway Mail Service employee who was in the express's parcel van.
- Additionally, seven passengers tragically lost their lives in this devastating incident.
The boomerang effect in this general election, and how
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GS 2: Indian Constitution: features, amendments, significant provisions
- The 2024 general election verdict in India has sparked intense debate and analysis, revealing deeper implications beyond the immediately visible effects.
- While some commentators highlight the expanded space for dissent and democracy following the election, others emphasize the potential for future change in governance dynamics, particularly in relation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership style often characterized as authoritative or centralized.
The high cost of a global economic decoupling
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GS 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment.
- The announcement by President Joe Biden in May to impose new tariffs on Chinese imports has revived concerns about a potential escalation in global economic decoupling.
- European policymakers are also considering aligning with the United States to collectively address what they view as China’s coercive economic practices.
- This shift in trade policy underscores a departure from traditional economic considerations to prioritize national security implications.
- The Biden administration's decision reflects a belief that economic interdependence with China poses strategic risks that Beijing could exploit for its own ends.
- This perspective challenges the liberal economic premise that mutual economic benefits naturally lead to stable relations.
- As tariffs are reintroduced, the focus has shifted from purely economic impacts to broader geopolitical and security concerns.
- This approach highlights how trade decisions are increasingly shaped by political calculations rather than economic interests alone.
- The long-term consequences of these actions remain uncertain, potentially affecting global supply chains, consumer prices, and diplomatic relations.
New dynamics
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GS 2: International Relations- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting the Indian interests
- The G-7 Outreach Summit held in Italy welcomed leaders from 10 countries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling a departure from traditional Western-centric dynamics by inviting predominantly Global South nations such as Brazil, India, and the UAE.
- Hosted in the Mediterranean Apulia region, the summit aimed to foster inclusivity and address pressing global issues amidst a backdrop of economic challenges, pandemic recovery efforts, and geopolitical tensions.
- Historically, the G-7 has been viewed as a forum for the world's leading industrialized democracies to coordinate policies on finance, development, and global security.
- However, recent years have seen the group's influence questioned due to sluggish economic growth, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war.
- The joint communiqué from the summit underscored continued support for Ukraine through military, humanitarian, and reconstruction aid, although it lacked a clear strategy to resolve the conflict.
- The summit also highlighted concerns over China's economic practices in the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing issues such as industrial targeting and unfair trade practices, though member countries' commitment to reducing their economic ties with Beijing remains uncertain.
Time for a Census, come what may
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GS 1: Society: population and associated issues,
- The delay in conducting the 2021 Census in India has been linked to political strategies, particularly concerning the delimitation exercise crucial for parliamentary elections.
- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is allegedly prolonging the Census process to expedite delimitation ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
- According to the 84th amendment of the Constitution, delimitation must be based on the first census conducted after 2026.
- If the next census were to occur in 2024 or 2025, delimitation would have to wait until after the subsequent census, potentially in the 2030s.
- Therefore, to achieve delimitation before 2029, the BJP may be delaying the 2021 Census until 2026 or even 2027, as a census conducted in 2026 might not qualify as being "after 2026" for the purpose of delimitation.
Does H5N1 pose a threat for humans?
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GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain has sparked significant concern due to its impact on both livestock and potential human health risks.
- In the United States, H5N1 has affected cattle across multiple states, and alarmingly, three cases of human infection among dairy farm workers have been reported for the first time.
- This has raised fears of broader transmission from cattle to humans.
- Similarly, in Kerala, India, districts like Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta have witnessed outbreaks of H5N1 since April, particularly around water bodies, migratory bird habitats, and integrated farms.
- The confirmation of H5N1 in crow carcasses in Alappuzha has intensified concerns about widespread dissemination of the virus.
- H5N1, which emerged in 1996, has led to extensive mortality among wild birds and poultry worldwide.
- Its recent spread to various mammalian species, including cattle, and the newly identified risk of human infection have heightened fears that H5N1 could trigger a global pandemic.
- In the U.S., the virus has been implicated in herd-to-herd transmission across 12 states, with detections in raw milk and milking machines, underscoring its potential to spread through agricultural settings.
How can Himachal Pradesh fight against forest fires?
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GS 3: Environment- Conservation
- Himachal Pradesh (H.P.) is currently facing a severe crisis of widespread forest fires, with the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department reporting a staggering 1,684 incidents since April 15 alone.
- These fires have ravaged a total of 17,471 hectares of forest land, causing significant damage to wildlife and biodiversity.
- Over the period from 2001 to 2023, the state has already lost 957 hectares of tree cover specifically due to fires and an additional 4.37 thousand hectares from other causes of forest loss.
- Forest fires in the Himalayas are particularly prevalent during the pre-monsoon summer months, characterized by low moisture levels due to the depletion of snowmelt water.
- The moisture conditions during this period, influenced by sporadic rainstorms, are crucial factors that determine the severity and spread of forest fires. Reduced moisture exacerbates fire risks, making the forests more susceptible to ignition and rapid spread.
- Human activities also contribute significantly to the occurrence of forest fires in Himachal Pradesh.
- Unattended campfires, discarded cigarettes, and other human-induced sources of ignition are common triggers for these devastating fires.
- The combination of natural factors and human actions poses a grave threat to the delicate ecosystem of the region, highlighting the urgent need for effective forest management practices, enhanced monitoring, and public awareness campaigns to prevent and mitigate forest fires in the future.
Modi to open new Nalanda University campus today
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GS 1: Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture
- Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University on June 19, emphasizing its significance as an international institution located near the ancient ruins of Nalanda in Rajgir, Bihar.
- He asserted that Nalanda symbolizes India's rich academic heritage and vibrant cultural exchange.
- Modi highlighted Nalanda as a testament to the enduring nature of knowledge, stating, "Nalanda is the proclamation of this truth that books may burn in the flames of fire, but the flames of fire cannot destroy knowledge. Nalanda is an identity, respect, and pride."
NSAs of India and the U.S. assure industry to resolve any barriers that hold back relations
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GS 2: International Relations- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting the Indian interests
- National Security Adviser Ajit Doval emphasized the importance of India and the U.S. leading in technology to safeguard and uphold their respective value systems, as part of a broader strategic imperative.
- He made these remarks while addressing the Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) industry CEO roundtable, which included U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
- Both NSAs assured industry leaders that they would work diligently to overcome any obstacles hindering deeper India-U.S. cooperation.
Scientists from India, China, U.K. develop catalyst to produce cheaper biodiesel
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GS 3: General awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nanotechnology, bio-technology
- A team of scientists from Assam, Odisha, China, and the United Kingdom has developed a water-repellent catalyst that significantly reduces the cost of producing environmentally friendly biodiesel compared to current methods.
